2012 4th International Conference on Computer Research and Development
IPCSIT vol.39 (2012) © (2012) IACSIT Press, Singapore
Impact of Technology on Physical and Mental Health of Library
Professionals in Engineering Colleges of Anna University, Tamilnadu
K.Mahalakshmi1, S.Ally Sornam2
1
Librarian, Faculty of Engineering , Avinashilingam University, Thadagam P.O., Coimbatore641108.Tamilnadu,India
2
Associate Prof., & Head, PG Dept of Lib.& Infn. Sc., Bishop Heber College,Tiruchy-620 017, Tamilnadu,
India
nilamaha@gmail.com, ally_jelen@yahoo.co.in
Abstract. A study is conducted to identify the impact of technology on library professionals employed in
engineering colleges of Anna University, Tamilnadu. A questionnaire was distributed to the library
professionals which consists of demographic details, physical effects, physical and psychological symptoms
of technology on library professionals. It is found that 46.70% of the respondents are in the age group of 2534, 40.06% of the respondents suffer from hypertension and female library professionals are prone to
physical effects such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders and hypertension.
Also demographical details such as marital status, experience and monthly income of the respondents have
significant influence on physical effects.
Keywords: Technology, Impact, Library Professionals
1. Introduction
Library professionals in engineering colleges work in networked environment. They provide access to eresources, design and maintain digital content. As a result, library operations are changing rapidly and they
need to adapt new plan of actions. While analyzing the literature related to impact of technology, it is
observed that irrespective of the gender, library professionals are prone to eye strain, muscular problems,
headache, frustration rapid heartbeat and anxiety. This paper studies the reaction of library professionals for
the technological changes and physical and psychological issues faced by them and suggested some remedial
measures too.
2. Literature review
Many physical, psychological and social problems have followed the introduction of Video Display
Terminals (VDTs) in offices. Some of the common ailments arising from working in Information
Technology (IT) environment include visual problems, postural problems and various psychosocial problems
due to work stress. Cohen’s.S (1981) [1] paper “Sound Effects on Behaviour,” found that lack of autonomy
and pressures for performance are distinguishing features of highly stressful IT jobs. Problems such as
tension, low morale, poor attitude, isolation, fear and worry are symptoms of psychological stress. Fear of job
loss, physical harm and isolation from co-workers may cause operators of automated equipment to develop
any of the above mentioned stress symptoms. Some common causes of work stress resulting from working in
an IT environment are lack of autonomy, heavy workloads, pressures for performance, monitored
performance, disrupted social relationships, concern for career and job future, feeling of lack of competence,
long hours spent in front of computers and fear of not being able to catch up with IT. Emmanuel,H and
Saunders,S (1983) [2] in their article “Plugging into the open office,” suggest that many things affect the
amount of stress workers experience. Among the reasons, users’ past experience with computers and age of
the users play a major role related to stress. Older employees in particular suffer from psychological stress
arising from fear of computers-fear about not being able to use the machines and fear of failing when
competing with younger and better trained workers. Techno stress symptoms may be physical, cognitive,
emotional and behavioral (Hacket,G and Lonborg, S,1983) [3].Physical symptoms include muscle tension,
rapid heartbeat, dry mouth and throat, shallow breathing, headache, gastric problems, repetitive strain injuries,
carpal tunnel syndrome and back problems. Cognitive symptoms include mental fatigue, inability to
concentrate, poor judgment and temporary confusion. Emotional symptoms include irritability, anxiety,
mental fatigue and depression. Behaviour symptoms include impulsiveness, avoidance, withdrawal, loss of
appetite and insomnia. A study by Palvia.S and Tung,Lai (1990) [4] “IT use and Incidence of Stress by
Demographic factors: An exploratory study,” found that more than 70% of the office workers reported eye
strain and general stress in using IT. There is a positive correlation between age and health problems such as
eye strain, stress and backache. There is also a positive correlation between the number of hours spent in
front of a computer monitor and eye strain and stress. The top three sources of stress include long hours spent
in front of the computer, having to prepare a lot of documents and not being fully competent with IT.
Koenenn, Connie (1990) [5] in her article “Techno stress: The high price of a high tech world.” She
attributes the symptoms such as tension, suspicion, fatigue, headache and back pain to techno stress. Rapid
change is one of the reasons given for this fall out as well as isolation factors (People communicate via email instead of in-person). Impatience is another reaction due to technology- people are more impatient when
loading software, etc.
3. Objectives
1. To identify the physical symptoms
2. To identify the physical effects, and
3.
To identify the psychological symptoms
4. Methodology
Anna University was established on 4th September 1978 as a unitary type of University. In the year 2002,
it was converted into an affiliated type of university wherein all the Government, Government aided and
Self-financing Engineering Colleges in the State of Tamil Nadu numbering around 102 are taken under one
umbrella. There were 240 engineering colleges during 2006, due to administrative exigencies, the state
government divided the Anna University into the four separate universities namely,
•
•
•
•
Anna University, Chennai
Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore
Anna University of Technology, Tiruchirappalli and
Anna University of Technology, Tirunelveli
The respondent population consists of librarians and assistant librarians of engineering colleges of Anna
University in the districts of Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Tirunelveli of Tamilnadu. In 2009,
there were 354 colleges in Anna University, Tamilnadu. Out of 354 colleges, 109 colleges were started only
in the last two years. These 109 colleges being relatively new were not included in the study. Thus, the study
population consists of 245 colleges. The questionnaires were sent to 375 professionals in 245 colleges, of
which 350 were received but only 332 were found to be defect free in all aspects and yielded 88.5% response
rate. So, the sample for present study is 332. The questionnaire consist of two parts namely demographical
details and the second part consists of physical effects, physical and psychological symptoms. The collected
data were processed using SPSS software.
5. Results and Discussion
Table I provides demographical details of the respondents 231(69.58%) respondents are male and
138(41.57%) of the respondents are drawing ` 10,001-` 20,000 as monthly income.
Table I Demographical Details
Demographical details
Gender
Classification
Male
Female
<25
25-34
35-44
45-54
>55
Age Group (in Years)
Marital Status
Bachelor/Spinster
Married
Divorced
Widow/Widower
Below 10,000
10,001-20,000
20,001-30,000
30,001-40,000
40,001-50,000
50,001-60,000
> 60,001
Monthly Income(in Rs)
Frequency
69.58
30.42
7.53
46.70
36.74
7.53
1.50
19.58
78.61
0.60
1.21
Percentage
231
101
25
155
122
25
5
65
261
2
4
34.64
41.57
11.75
8.13
2.41
0.90
0.60
115
138
39
27
8
3
2
Table II Physical Symptoms
.Symptoms
N
R
O
M
A
Total
Sleep
disturbances
95(28.61)
160(48.19)54(16.27) 9(2.71)
14(4.22)
332(100)
Stomach
problems
Headache
Dizziness
Rash
Fatigue
exhaustion
Eye strain
114(34.34)
146(43.98)49(14.76) 12(3.61)
11(3.31)
332(100)
83(25.00)
158(47.59)
191(57.53)
145(43.67)76(22.89) 16(4.82) 12(3.61) 332(100)
119(35.84)33(9.94) 10 (3.01) 12 (3.61) 332(100)
109(32.83)17(5.12) 5 (1.51) 10 (3.01) 332(100)
195(58.73)
104(31.33)20(6.02)
85(25.60)
142(42.77)58(17.47) 28 (8.43) 19 (5.72) 332(100)
5 (1.51)
8 (2.41)
332(100)
Note: Values in brackets are in percentage
Table II explains the division of respondents based on frequency of occurrence of various physical
symptoms of technology. Respondents were given a scale N-No, R-Rarely, O-Often, M-More often and AAlways. It is observed from table IV that, half of the respondents 160 (48.19%) rarely suffer from sleep
disturbance. Maximum of 98 (29.52%) respondents rarely get panic attacks and cardiovascular diseases. Maximum of
109 (32.83%) respondents rarely suffer from backache and other muscular problems followed by 142 (42.77%)
respondents rarely suffer from eye strain and 145 (43.67%) respondents suffer from headache.
Hypothesis: Personal factors of the respondents have no significant influence on physical symptoms
relating to technology.
Table III. Personal Factors-Physical Symptoms
Personal
Factors
Gender
Age (in years)
Marital Status
Education
Experience (in years)
Type of College
Area of Work
Monthly Income (in Rs)
Nativity
Chi Square
Values
p
values
NS/
S
1.897
9.048
0.387
0.171
NS
NS
5.167
7.448
9.345
0.523
0.281
0.314
NS
NS
NS
7.734
11.965
21.34
0.102
0.746
0.006
NS
NS
S
1.068
0.586
NS
S-Significant at 5% level (probability < 0.05), NS-Not significant at 5% level (Probability > 0.05)
Table III describes the personal factors of the respondents, chi-square values, p values and their
significance on physical symptoms relating to technology. It is found from table III that hypothesis is rejected
(S) in monthly income of the respondents and in rest of the eight cases the hypothesis is accepted (NS).
Table IV. Physical Effects
Physical
effects
N
Reduced immunity to
disease
Obese
Diabetic
Heart Disease
Musculo skeletal
Disorders
Hypertension
R
O
M
A
Total
172(51.81)
111(33.43)22(6.63)
10(3.01) 17(5.12)
332(100)
272(81.93)
40(12.05) 7(2.11)
2(0.6)
11(3.31)
332(100)
279(84.04)
282(84.94)
201(60.54)
31(9.34) 7(2.11)
33(9.94) 5(1.51)
93(28.01) 18(5.42)
2(0.6)
2(0.6)
8(2.41)
13(3.92)
10(3.01)
12(3.61)
332(100)
332(100)
332(100)
149(44.88)
133(40.06)36(10.84) 6(1.81)
8(2.41)
332(100)
Note: Values In Brackets Are In Percentage
The table IV portrays the categorization of respondents based on the frequency of occurrence of various
physical effects of technology. Respondents were given a scale N-No, R-Rarely, O-Often, M-More often and
A-Always. It is found from the table IV that, minimum of 10 (3.01%) respondents more often suffer from
reduced immunity to disease. Maximum of 40 (12.05%), 31 (9.34%), 33 (9.94%), 93 (28.01%) and 133
(40.06%) rarely suffer from obesity, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders and
hypertension respectively.
Hypothesis: The personal factors of the respondents have no significant influence on the Physical effects
relating to techno logy.
Table V. Personal Factors And Physical Effects
Personal
Factors
Chi Square
Values
p
Values
NS/S
Gender
4.790
0.091
NS
Age (in years)
11.467
0.075
NS
Marital Status
7.673
0.022
S
Education
4.296
0.637
NS
Experience (in years)
19.212
0.014
S
Type of College
2.603
0.626
NS
Area of Work
13.177
0.660
NS
Monthly Income (in Rs)
17.284
0.027
S
Nativity
0.410
0.814
NS
S-Significant at 5% level (probability < 0.05), NS-Not significant at 5% level (Probability > 0.05)
Table V depicts the personal factors of the respondents, chi-square values, p values and their significance
on physical effects relating to technology. It is found from table V that, hypothesis is rejected (S) in three
cases namely marital status, experience and monthly income of the respondents and in remaining cases
hypothesis is accepted (NS).
Table VI. Psychological Symptoms
Feeling
N
R
O
A
Total
Anger
-
Anxiety
-
16 (4.82) 332(100)
332 (100)
230(69.28) 66 (19.88) 23 (6.93) 13 (3.92)
Depression
-
219(65.96) 71 (21.39) 25 (7.53) 17 (5.12)
-
218 (65.66) 62(18.67)
-
252 (75.9) 49 (14.76) 13 (3.92) 18 (5.42) 332 (100)
237 (71.39) 59 (17.77) 20 (6.02) 16 (4.82) 332 (100)
-
241 (72.59) 55 (16.57) 14 (4.22) 22 (6.63) 332 (100)
Indecisiveness
-
258 (77.71) 44 (13.25) 14 (4.22) 16 (4.82)
Lack of concentration
Loss of confidence
Lower self-esteem
-
245 (73.8) 52 (15.66) 18 (5.42) 17 (5.12) 332 (100)
266 (80.12) 34 (10.24) 18 (5.42) 14 (4.22) 332 (100)
257 (77.41) 41 (12.35) 15(4.52) 19 (5.72) 332 (100)
Excessive worries over
health
Inability to cope
Frustration
Hopelessness/
Helplessness
215 (64.76) 78(23.49)
M
23(6.93)
332 (100)
29 (8.73) 23 (6.93) 332 (100)
332 (100)
Note: Values in brackets are in percentage
Table VI depicts the distribution of respondents based on frequency of occurrence of various
psychological symptoms of technology. As illustrated, a maximum of 266 (80.12%), 258 (77.71%), 257
(77.41%), 252 (75.9%), 245 (73.8%) and 237 (71.39%) respondents rarely feel loss of confidence,
indecisiveness, lower self-esteem, inability to cope, lack of concentration and frustration.While a minimum
of 13 (3.92%), 14 (4.22%), 15 (4.52%) respondents more often feel inability to cope, hopelessness and
indecisiveness and lower self-esteem respectively.
Hypothesis:The personal factors have no significant influence on psychological symptoms relating to
technology.
Table VII. Personal Factors And Psychological Symptoms
Personal
Factors
Gender
Age group (in years)
Marital Status
Education
Experience (in years)
Type of College
Area of Work
Monthly income (in Rs)
Nativity
Chi Square
Values
0.063
7.786
4.322
2.450
14.911
1.870
8.118
14.455
2.514
p Values
0.969
0.254
0.115
0.874
0.061
0.760
0.945
0.071
0.285
NS/
S
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
S-Significant at 5% level (probability < 0.05), NS-Not significant at 5% level (Probability > 0.05)
Table VII depicts the personal factors of the respondents, chi-square values, p values and their
significance on psychological symptoms relating to technology. It is found from table VII, the hypothesis is
accepted (NS) in all the cases which indicates the personal factors have insignificant influence on the
psychological symptoms relating to technology.
6. Conclusion
The paper studied the effect of technology on the physical and mental health of library professionals of
Anna University, TamilNadu. It is found that respondents suffer from physical symptoms such as sleep
disturbance and backache and other muscular problems, physical effects such as obesity and diabetes mellitus
and psychological symptoms such as loss of confidence and lower self esteem.This is in line with the results
of Hacket,G and Lonborg,S(1983),Palvia.S andTung,Lai(1994),Koennen,Connie(1990)Ametz,Bengt and
Wihol, Clairy(1997).Also, marital status, monthly income, age group and gender of the respondents have
significant influence on usage of technology. Further the study revealed that respondents are carrying out
their activities with stress. This can be minimized by coping strategies such as integrating new skills into
professional responsibility, effective communication within the environment, giving close attention to
physical health, acquiring technological skills continuously and thereby lead to increased feelings of
confidence and competence, attending yoga classes and doing regular exercises to reduce stress.
7. References
[1] Cohen S. (1982). Sound Effects on Behaviour. Psychology Today, 15(38-49).Retrieved from
http://repository.cmu.edu/psychology/286.
[2] Emmanuel, H. & Saunders, S. (1983). Plugging into the open office, Today’s office, (June), 28-31.
[3] Hackett, Gail & Longborg, Susan. (1983). Models of Stress. San Francisco: Jossey – Boss.
[4] Palvia. S & Tung, Lai. (1994). IT use and Incidence of Stress by Demographic Factors: An Exploratory Study.
Paper contributed to TENCON '94. Retrieved from http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/.
[5] Koenenn, Connie. (1990, September 30).Techno stress: The high price of high tech. Star Bulletin and Advertiser, p,
D1.